Married same-sex couples will now enjoy similar rights to heterosexual couple following a new announcement from the Obama administration Getty Images

The White House has officially backed a proposal to scrap state bans on gay marriage, claiming such laws are "incompatible with the Constitution".

In what represents its first formal involvement in the US Supreme Court's deliberations on nationwide same-sex marriage, the Obama administration filed a brief relating to rulings in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennesse. Beyond these four states, gay marriage is legal to proceed in 36 states, banned in 7 states, and in Alabama, Kansas and Missouri the legal situation is a bit more complicated.

Referring to anti-gay marriage rulings at the state level, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli wrote: "These facially discriminatory laws impose concrete harms on same-sex couples and send the inescapable message that same-sex couples and their children are second-class families, unworthy of the recognition and benefits that opposite-sex couples take for granted."

This was one of a number of briefs backing gay marriage that were filed ahead of Friday's deadline, including one signed by major companies including Google, American Airlines, Goldman Sachs and Johnson & Johnson.

In pictures: UK's first gay weddings

In pictures: UK's first gay weddings

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First gay marriages

Lesbian couple Sarah Keith (left) and Emma Powell embrace while posing for photographs after their same-sex wedding at the Claremont Hotel in Brighton

Reuters

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Sean Adl-Tabatabai, center, and Sinclair Treadway, right, pose for photographers with the openly gay mayor of Camden Jonathan Simpson, left, after they were announced officially married in a wedding ceremony in the Council Chamber at Camden Town Hall in London, Saturday 29 March, 2014

AP

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First gay marriages

Helen Brearley (right) and Teresa Millward pose for photographs after getting married at Halifax Register Office

Getty Images

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First gay marriages

Gay couple Neil Allard (right) and Andrew Wale are married in the Music Room of Brighton's Royal Pavilion shortly after midnight in one of the UK's first same-sex weddings

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First gay marriages

A woman waves a rainbow flag as gay couple Peter McGraith and David Cabreza leave Islington Town Hall

Getty Images

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A solitary demonstrator holds a placard in protest against the legalisation of same sex marriage, outside St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey, London

PA

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First gay marriages

Sean Adl-Tabatabai and Sinclair Treadway look jovial as they tie the knot in front of around 100 guests

AP

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The rainbow flag flies above British Cabinet Offices, marking the first day Britain has allowed same sex marriages, in London

Reuters

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First gay marriages

Lesbian couple Sarah Keith and Emma Powell (left) react after their same-sex wedding at the Claremont Hotel in Brighton

Reuters

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First gay marriages

A pair of shoes are pictured on a chair at a place setting during the reception after the same-sex wedding of couple Sarah Keith and Emma Powell in Brighton

Reuters

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First gay marriages

Camden mayor Jonathan Simpson speaks during the ceremony, which took place just after midnight on Saturday

AP

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Sean Adl-Tabatabai looks on as his new husband Sinclair Treadway signs official documents

AP

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Sean Adl-Tabatabai and Sinclair Treadway hold hands as they celebrate their marriage

AP

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First gay marriages

Sean Adl-Tabatabai and Sinclair Treadway toast married life

AP

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First gay marriages

Sealed with a kiss: Sean Adl-Tabatabai and Sinclair Treadway make it official

AP

On the other side, a brief was filed on behalf of conservative activists led by former former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman and David Koch, one of the politically powerful billionaire Koch brothers.

The deadline for gay-marriage opposition briefs isn't until later this month.